Awning structure



`huly A30, 1929. w. G. DUNN Filed Jan. 16, 1928 r W W tmmlmlllll -g- MM gdm/@f f Patented July 3G, i929.

massi WLLIA/ Ge. DUNN, OF CLARINDA, IOWA.

AWNIIG STRUCTURE.

The object of my invent-ion is to provide an awning structure especially adapted for automobiles and being of simple, durable, and comparatively inexpensive construction.

A further object is to provide an awning body or element formed of sheet material such as cardboard ormetal with means for attaching it to the Window or doorl frame of an automobile so that the device serves as an awning structure and can be made inexpensive enough for use for advertising purposes in which case the advertising is printed directly upon the sheet.

Still a further obj ect is to make an awning element of material whereby a supporting frame is not required and the supporting brackets for the awning element may be a ttached directly to the body itself.

Still a further object is to providel supporting brackets for the body consisting of bracket like devices having portions adapted to extend into the window grooves of the door or window frame of an automobile, portions of the brackets being pivotally connected to the body whereby the devicemay be readily installed.

Another object is to provide an awning body reducible in length so that openings of various sizes may be fitted and to provide means comprising channel shaped end members to lit over the ends of the awning body whereby the necessity of sewing, folding or rebinding the cut edges of the body, when reduced in length, is eliminated.

Still another object is to provide the channel shaped end member for being adapted to be slipped over the cut or raw ends of the body to render them waterproof.

Still another object is to pivot the awning supporting brackets for the structure to these channel shaped end members.

Another objectis to provide resilient means for swinging the brackets on their pivots whereby they are rotated relative to the awning body or element so that they normally maintain the awning in position on the door or window frame by causing the brackets to coact therewith by iitting in the window grooves thereof.

VVlith these and other objects in View, my invention consists v in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various elements of my invention whereby the objects contemplated are attained7 as hereinafter set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a side elevation of an automobile door showing my awning structure attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the awning structure taken on the line 2-2 of Figure l and showing the door frame in section.

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the awning structure.

Figure l is a perspective View of one end of the device.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 3 and illustrating the manner of cooperation between the end members and the cardboard awning element.

Figure 6 isan enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 4l illustrating the relation of the bracket, the end member andthe cardboard; and

Figures 7 and 8 are underside views of one end of the awning showing different modes of applying a spring tension on the bracket to cause its pivotal movement relative to the awning.

On the accompanying drawing l have used the reference numeral 10 tofindicate a door or window frame. The frame l0 is provided with vertical channel grooves 12 which are lined with strips of felt 14. The strips of felt le are arranged in channel form so that a glass 16 may be vertically adjusted in the frame 10. r)The foregoing construct-ion is the ordinary automobile door lor window and I have designed my awning structure to be applied to such a frame.

My awning structure comprises a pair of supporting brackets A comprising supporting members 18 having flanges 20. Enlarged disk like portions 22 are formed on the members 18and these portions are provided with radial depressions 24 whereby the disk like portions are annularly corrugated.

The brackets A also include members 26 havinginturned flanges and disk like portions 28 adapted to lit against the portions 22 of the members 18. The portions 28 are formed with depressions 30 similar to the depressions 24 of the portions 22. The portions 22 and 28 are riveted together as indicated at 32.

The rivets 32 are drawn just tight enough to cause a frictional engagement between the disk like port-ions 22 and 28. It will there- 'fore be obvious that the member 26 may be adjusted relative to the member 18 and the depressions 2d and 28 will serve to hold .these members in their adjusted position relative to each other. Y

Pivoted to each member Q6 oit each bracket A is an end member B. rlhe end member B .is channel shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 5. A cardboard awning elementC is adapted to have its ends received in the enannel shaped end members B. Each end membei' is provided with an inturned 'flange ed as shown in Figure which dents into the cardboard C to prevent 'rain from getti"I o' in the channel shaped end member and s( ag into the end ot the cardbmird. As clearly illustrated in Figures l and 2, the ends oit the cardboard are supported by the end mem bers B.

rlhe end member B is pivoted to the member 26 ot the bracket A by a rivet substantially intermediate its length. ln this manner the bracket A is pivotally mounted relative to the awning element G. ne ends oi the end member B are bent downwardly asv at 38 and then under the iii-turned flange e0 of the member 26 as at 42. This prevents the ends of the member B from bending up relative to themember 26. g

The awning element C is provided at each ot'its side edges with a binder strip ot metal or the li te 43 to prevent water soaking into the side edges ot the element C. he surlace ot' the'element can be painted or coated to make it water proot and advertising may be either printed or painted onto it whereby "he structure makes a novel advertising device.

In the installation of the awning the flanges oic the brackets A are swung inwardly as indicated in dotted lines in FigureA 2. For swinging these ends outwardly l provide a resilient connection 4l attached to the opposite end oit' the bracket A and to -the awning element C at llG. rlhisresilient connection may be a rubber band, coil sprl r, or flat wire spring as illustrated in Fig-rufe 2. After the brackets A have been swung to the dotted line position oit Figure 2 thetlanges 20 are forced in behind the strips of lelt le in the window grooves l2. rlhe springs 41e tend to maintain the flanges within the grooves so that the awning is thereafter supported in position for use.

It will be obvious that any desired type 'ot resilient connection may be used 'for swinging the brackets A and in Figure 7 l have illustrated the bracket as having a bell crank arm 48 to which one end oic a coil spring 5() is secured. The. other end of the coil spring is connected by a clip to the edge of the awning element C.

Another way oli' swinging the bracket in one direction is by the use of the spring 5st illustrated in Figure 8. This spring wraps around the pivot 36 and has one end 56 engaging the member 26 of the bracket A and the other end hooked as at 58 tor engaging over the edge oi the awning element C.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that l have provided an inexpensive awning which may be manufactured tor the purpose 01"' using it for advertising and yet a veryserriceable awning is provided. The awning is quickly attached to or detached from the automobile and in case the awning element becomes broken or damaged, a new one can easily be substituted by merely pulling the end members li trom the ends of the awning element. After the end members B have been once placed on the awning element and the structure sl'lgported in position on an automobile, the springs tend to keep the end members on the ends oit the awning element as well as to keep the entire structure supported relative to the door or window trame.

Sonie changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my de vice without departing from the real spirit and purpose ot my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modilied forms o1 structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included Awithin their scope.

l claim as my invention:

l. An awning structure comprising an awning element, an end member attached to each end thereof, a bracket pivoted to eachend member whereby the inner ends ol" the bracket may be moved away from each other, each bracket having on its inner end a flange adapted to extend into the window groove ot a window trame and means associated with said bracket ior normally causing such movement ot the brackets.

2. An awning structure comprising an awning element, a channel shaped end member litting over each end thereof, a bracket pivoted to each end member whereby the inner ends ot the bracket may be moved away from each other, each bracket having on its inner end a flange adapted to extend into the window groove a window trame and resilient means associated with said brackets for normally causing such movement.

3. An awning structure comprising an awning element, an end member attached to each end thereof, a bracket connected to each end member, said bracket comprising a por tion pivoted to the end member, a supporting portion pivoted to the lirst portion whereby the inclination ot" the awning element may be varied, said supporting portion having a flange adapted to extend into the window groove of a window .trame and means asso-V ciated with said bracket tor normally maintaining the flange in the groove.

4. An awning structure comprising an awning element, an end member attached to each end thereor", a bracket connected to each end member, said bracket comprising a portion pivoted to the end member, a supporting portion pivoted to the first portion whereby the inclination of the awning element may be varied, said supporting portion having a flange adapted to extend into the window groove of a window frame and resilient means connected with said awning element and said bracket for normally maintaining the ange in the groove.

5. In an awning structure, an awning element, and means for supporting said awning comprising a supporting bracket pivoted to each end of the awning element, tension means associated with each bracket and connected with the awning element for swinging them in one direction on their pivot-s, said brackets having portions adapted to coact with a window frame whereby the tension means serves to hold the awning element relative thereto.

6. In an awning structure, an awning element, and means for supporting said awning comprising a supporting bracket pivoted to each end of the awning element, tension means connected with the awning element and with each bracket for swinging them in one direction on their pivots, said brackets having portions adapted to coact with a window groove of a window frame whereby the tension means serves to cause portions of the brackets to enter the window grooves and thereby hold the awning element relative thereto.

7. A structure of the class described comprising a substantially rigid awning element, channel shaped end members for said awning element and having the ends of the element received in the channels thereof, brackets pivoted to said end members and resilient means for swinging said brackets relative to said end members whereby the structure may be supported relative to a window frame.

S. A structure of the class described comprising a substantially rigid awning element, channel shaped end members for said awning element and having the ends of the element received in the channels thereof,

brackets pivoted to said end members, said l end members having portions extending around the ends of the brackets and resilient means for swinging said brackets relative to said end members whereby the structure may be supported relative to a window frame.

9. A structure of the class described comprising a substantially rigid awning element, channel shaped end members for said awning element and having the ends of the element received in the channels thereof, brackets pivoted to said end members, said brackets each comprising two parts pivoted together whereby the angle of the awning may be adjusted and resilient means for swinging said brackets relative to said end members whereby the structure may be supported relative to a window frame.

lO. An awning structure including a sheet of awning material of self sustaining form, a pair of brackets having engaging portions, pivotal connections between said brackets and said body whereby said engaging portions may be moved away from each other for engagement with a window frame, the location of said connections being capable of ar# rangement at dierent positions with relation to the longitudinal center of said body that window openings of various widths may be fitted and said engaging portions may continue to function for engaging the win dow frame.

1l. An awning structure including a body, mounting brackets secured to said body and having a pivotal movement therewith, said bracket-s having out-turned opposed flanges for connection with a door or window opening and in-turned flanges carrying means for the pivotal connection with said body and yielding means attached to Isaid brackets for producing a rotary motion of said bracket upon said pivot whereby the portions of the bracket across the pivot from said out-turned flanges are moved towards each other.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 1l, 1928.

WILLIAM Gr. DUNN. 

